Easy To Use Patents Search & Patent Lawyer Directory

At Patents you can conduct a Patent Search, File a Patent Application, find a Patent Attorney, or search available technology through our Patent Exchange. Patents are available using simple keyword or date criteria. If you are looking to hire a patent attorney, you've come to the right place. Protect your idea and hire a patent lawyer.

An enterprise data collection system including at least one database for
receiving over a network and storing data collected from data resources
at a plurality of physical sites located at disparate locations, a
plurality of remotely synchronizable probes (RSPs) located at the
plurality of physical sites, the remotely synchronizable probes (RSPs)
performing at least one of the following data collection functions: real
time event collection, file system crawling for data structure and
permissions, data content analysis, data indexing, data tagging and event
triggered alerts, and at least one RSP manager located remotely from at
least one of the plurality of remotely synchronizable probes and being
operative to govern the operation of and orchestrate data collection and
transmission by the plurality of remotely synchronizable probes (RSPs).

1. An enterprise data collection system comprising: monitoring and collection functionality for providing continuously updated metadata relating to at least one of
actual access, access permissions and content of data resources at a plurality of physical sites located at disparate locations; at least one database for receiving over a network and storing said metadata continuously collected from said data resources
at said plurality of physical sites located at disparate locations; a plurality of remotely synchronizable probes (RSPs) located at said plurality of physical sites, said remotely synchronizable probes (RSPs) performing: parsing said continuously
collected metadata to ascertain whether there has been a change in at least one critical characteristic of said continuously collected metadata; responsive to said ascertaining that there has been a change in said at least one critical characteristic of
said continuously collected metadata, categorizing said change in said at least one critical characteristic of said continuously collected metadata; and at least one of the following data collection functions: real time event collection; file system
crawling for data structure and permissions; data indexing; data tagging; and event triggered alerts; and at least one RSP manager located remotely from at least one of said plurality of remotely synchronizable probes and being operative: to collect
at least two of the following metrics: network aspects of said network, said network aspects comprising at least the latency of said network and the bandwidth of said network; time of day/day of week at each of said RSPs; size of each of said data
resources; type of data resource of each of said data resources; prioritization of certain ones of said data resources over other ones of said data resources; and user defined prioritization of said data resources; to re-prioritize the timing of
performing, by each RSP of said plurality of RSPs, at least one of at least one of said data collection functions and data transmission over the timing of performing, by each other RSP of said plurality of RSPs, at least one of at least one of said data
collection functions and data transmission, on the basis of said categorizing said change in said at least one critical characteristic of said continuously collected metadata and at least two of said metrics; and responsive to said prioritizing, to
instruct each RSP of said plurality of RSPs to perform said data collection functions and data transmission to said database.

2. An enterprise data collection system according to claim 1 and wherein said at least one RSP coordinates the timing of at least some data collection functions carried out on multiple ones of said data resources, which functions may occur
simultaneously.

3. An enterprise data collection system according to claim 2 and wherein said at least one RSP manager coordinates the timing of data transmission from multiple ones of said plurality of RSPs, which transmission may occur simultaneously.

4. An enterprise data collection system according to claim 3 and wherein said at least one RSP manager coordinates the timing of data transmission from multiple ones of said plurality of RSPs on the basis of at least one of the following
metrics: network latency; network bandwidth; time of day/day of week at the RSP; time of day/day of week at the at least one database; amount of data to be transmitted; prioritization of certain RSPs over other RSPs; and user defined prioritization
of data resources.

5. An enterprise data collection system according to claim 4 and wherein said prioritization of certain RSPs over other RSPs is based at least partially on characteristics of at least one of: real time event collection; file system crawling
for data structure and permissions; data content analysis; data indexing; data tagging; and event triggered alerts.

6. An enterprise data collection system according to claim 1 and wherein said prioritization of certain data resources over other data resources is based at least partially on characteristics of at least one of: real time event collection;
file system crawling for data structure and permissions; data content analysis; data indexing; data tagging; and event triggered alerts.

7. An enterprise data collection system according to claim 6 and wherein said at least one RSP manager coordinates the timing of data transmission from multiple ones of said plurality of RSPs, which transmission may occur simultaneously.

8. An enterprise data collection system according to claim 7 and wherein said at least one RSP manager coordinates the timing of data transmission from multiple ones of said plurality of RSPs on the basis of at least one of the following
metrics: network latency; network bandwidth; time of day/day of week at the RSP; time of day/day of week at the at least one database; amount of data to be transmitted; prioritization of certain RSPs over other RSPs; and user defined prioritization
of data resources.

9. An enterprise data collection system according to claim 8 and wherein said prioritization of certain RSPs over other RSPs is based at least partially on characteristics of at least one of: real time event collection; file system crawling
for data structure and permissions; data content analysis; data indexing; data tagging; and event triggered alerts.

10. An enterprise data collection system according to claim 1 and wherein said at least one RSP manager coordinates the timing of data transmission from multiple ones of said plurality of RSPs, which transmission may occur simultaneously.

11. An enterprise data collection system according to claim 10 and wherein said at least one RSP manager coordinates the timing of data transmission from multiple ones of said plurality of RSPs on the basis of at least one of the following
metrics: network latency; network bandwidth; time of day/day of week at the RSP; time of day/day of week at the at least one database; amount of data to be transmitted; prioritization of certain RSPs over other RSPs; and user defined prioritization
of data resources.

12. An enterprise data collection system according to claim 11 and wherein said prioritization of certain RSPs over other RSPs is based at least partially on characteristics of at least one of: real time event collection; file system crawling
for data structure and permissions; data content analysis; data indexing; data tagging; and event triggered alerts.

13. An enterprise data collection system according to claim 11 and wherein said at least one RSP manager is operative to collect at least three of the following metrics: network aspects of said network; time of day/day of week at each of said
RSPs; size of each of said data resources; type of data resource of each of said data resources; prioritization of certain ones of said data resources over other ones of said data resources; and user defined prioritization of said data resources;
and to prioritize the timing of performing, by each RSP of said plurality of RSPs, at least one of at least one of said data collection functions and data transmission over the timing of performing, by each other RSP of said plurality of RSPs, at least
one of at least one of said data collection functions and data transmission, on the basis of at least three of said metrics.

14. An enterprise data collection system according to claim 11 and wherein said at least one RSP manager is operative to collect at least four of the following metrics: network aspects of said network; time of day/day of week at each of said
RSPs; size of each of said data resources; type of data resource of each of said data resources; prioritization of certain ones of said data resources over other ones of said data resources; and user defined prioritization of said data resources;
and to prioritize the timing of performing, by each RSP of said plurality of RSPs, at least one of at least one of said data collection functions and data transmission over the timing of performing, by each other RSP of said plurality of RSPs, at least
one of at least one of said data collection functions and data transmission, on the basis of at least four of said metrics.

15. An enterprise data collection system according to claim 11 and wherein said at least one RSP manager is operative to collect at least five of the following metrics: network aspects of said network; time of day/day of week at each of said
RSPs; size of each of said data resources; type of data resource of each of said data resources; prioritization of certain ones of said data resources over other ones of said data resources; and user defined prioritization of said data resources;
and to prioritize the timing of performing, by each RSP of said plurality of RSPs, at least one of at least one of said data collection functions and data transmission over the timing of performing, by each other RSP of said plurality of RSPs, at least
one of at least one of said data collection functions and data transmission, on the basis of at least five of said metrics.

16. An enterprise data collection system according to claim 11 and wherein said at least one RSP manager is operative to collect the following metrics: network aspects of said network; time of day/day of week at each of said RSPs; size of
each of said data resources; type of data resource of each of said data resources; prioritization of certain ones of said data resources over other ones of said data resources; and user defined prioritization of said data resources; and to prioritize
the timing of performing, by each RSP of said plurality of RSPs, at least one of at least one of said data collection functions and data transmission over the timing of performing, by each other RSP of said plurality of RSPs, at least one of at least one
of said data collection functions and data transmission, on the basis of said metrics.

17. An enterprise data collection method comprising: employing monitoring and collection functionality for providing continuously updated metadata relating to at least one of actual access, access permissions and content of data resources at a
plurality of physical sites located at disparate locations; transmitting and receiving over a network and storing said metadata continuously collected from said data resources at a plurality of physical sites located at disparate locations; performing
at said plurality of physical sites: parsing said continuously collected metadata to ascertain whether there has been a change in at least one critical characteristic of said continuously collected metadata; responsive to said ascertaining that there
has been a change in said at least one critical characteristic of said continuously collected metadata, categorizing said change in said at least one critical characteristic of said continuously collected metadata; at least one of the following data
collection functions: real time event collection; file system crawling for data structure and permissions; data indexing; data tagging; and event triggered alerts; collecting at least two of the following metrics: network aspects of said network,
said network aspects comprising at least the latency of said network and the bandwidth of said network; time of day/day of week at each of said RSPs; size of each of said data resources; type of data resource of each of said data resources;
prioritization of certain ones of said data resources over other ones of said data resources; and user defined prioritization of said data resources; re-prioritizing the timing of performing, by each RSP of said plurality of RSPs, at least one of at
least one of said data collection functions and data transmission over the timing of performing, by each other RSP of said plurality of RSPs, at least one of at least one of said data collection functions and data transmission, on the basis of said
categorizing said change in said at least one critical characteristic of said continuously collected metadata and at least two of said metrics; and responsive to said prioritizing, to perform said data collection functions and data transmission to said
database, at each of said plurality of physical sites.

18. An enterprise data collection method according to claim 17 and also including coordinating the timing of at least some data collection functions carried out on multiple ones of said data resources, which functions may occur simultaneously.

19. An enterprise data collection method according to claim 18 and also comprising coordinating the timing of data transmission from multiple ones of said plurality of physical sites which transmission may occur simultaneously.

20. An enterprise data collection method according to claim 19 and wherein said coordinating the timing of data transmission from multiple ones of said plurality of physical sites is on the basis of at least one of the following metrics:
network latency; network bandwidth; time of day/day of week at the physical site; time of day/day of week at the at least one database; amount of data to be transmitted; prioritization of certain physical sites over other physical sites; and user
defined prioritization of data resources.

21. An enterprise data collection method according to claim 20 and wherein said prioritization of certain physical sites over other physical sites is based at least partially on characteristics of at least one of: real time event collection;
file system crawling for data structure and permissions; data content analysis; data indexing; data tagging; and event triggered alerts.

22. An enterprise data collection method according to claim 17 and wherein said prioritization of certain data resources over other data resources is based at least partially on characteristics of at least one of: real time event collection;
file system crawling for data structure and permissions; data content analysis; data indexing; data tagging; and event triggered alerts.

23. An enterprise data collection method according to claim 22 and also comprising coordinating the timing of data transmission from multiple ones of said plurality of physical sites which transmission may occur simultaneously.

24. An enterprise data collection method according to claim 23 and wherein said coordinating the timing of data transmission from multiple ones of said plurality of physical sites is on the basis of at least one of the following metrics:
network latency; network bandwidth; time of day/day of week at the physical site; time of day/day of week at the at least one database; amount of data to be transmitted; prioritization of certain physical sites over other physical sites; and user
defined prioritization of data resources.

25. An enterprise data collection method according to claim 24 and wherein said prioritization of certain physical sites over other physical sites is based at least partially on characteristics of at least one of: real time event collection;
file system crawling for data structure and permissions; data content analysis; data indexing; data tagging; and event triggered alerts.

26. An enterprise data collection method according to claim 17 and also comprising coordinating the timing of data transmission from multiple ones of said plurality of physical sites which transmission may occur simultaneously.

27. An enterprise data collection method according to claim 26 and wherein said coordinating the timing of data transmission from multiple ones of said plurality of physical sites is on the basis of at least one of the following metrics:
network latency; network bandwidth; time of day/day of week at the physical site; time of day/day of week at the at least one database; amount of data to be transmitted; prioritization of certain physical sites over other physical sites; and user
defined prioritization of data resources.

28. An enterprise data collection method according to claim 27 and wherein said prioritization of certain physical sites over other physical sites is based at least partially on characteristics of at least one of: real time event collection;
file system crawling for data structure and permissions; data content analysis; data indexing; data tagging; and event triggered alerts.

29. An enterprise data collection method according to claim 17 and comprising: collecting at least three of the following metrics: network aspects of said network; time of day/day of week at each of said RSPs; size of each of said data
resources; type of data resource of each of said data resources; prioritization of certain ones of said data resources over other ones of said data resources; and user defined prioritization of said data resources; and prioritizing the timing of
performing, at each of said plurality of physical sites, at least one of at least one of said data collection functions and data transmission over the timing of performing, at each other of said plurality of physical sites, at least one of at least one
of said data collection functions and data transmission, on the basis of at least three of said metrics.

30. An enterprise data collection method according to claim 17 and comprising: collecting at least four of the following metrics: network aspects of said network; time of day/day of week at each of said RSPs; size of each of said data
resources; type of data resource of each of said data resources; prioritization of certain ones of said data resources over other ones of said data resources; and user defined prioritization of said data resources; and prioritizing the timing of
performing, at each of said plurality of physical sites, at least one of at least one of said data collection functions and data transmission over the timing of performing, at each other of said plurality of physical sites, at least one of at least one
of said data collection functions and data transmission, on the basis of at least four of said metrics.

31. An enterprise data collection method according to claim 17 and comprising: collecting at least five of the following metrics: network aspects of said network; time of day/day of week at each of said RSPs; size of each of said data
resources; type of data resource of each of said data resources; prioritization of certain ones of said data resources over other ones of said data resources; and user defined prioritization of said data resources; and prioritizing the timing of
performing, at each of said plurality of physical sites, at least one of at least one of said data collection functions and data transmission over the timing of performing, at each other of said plurality of physical sites, at least one of at least one
of said data collection functions and data transmission, on the basis of at least five of said metrics.

32. An enterprise data collection method according to claim 17 and comprising: collecting the following metrics: network aspects of said network; time of day/day of week at each of said RSPs; size of each of said data resources; type of data
resource of each of said data resources; prioritization of certain ones of said data resources over other ones of said data resources; and user defined prioritization of said data resources; and prioritizing the timing of performing, at each of said
plurality of physical sites, at least one of at least one of said data collection functions and data transmission over the timing of performing, at each other of said plurality of physical sites, at least one of at least one of said data collection
functions and data transmission, on the basis of said metrics.

Description

REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

Reference is made to the following patents and patent applications, owned by assignee, the disclosures of which are hereby incorporated by reference:

The following publications are believed to represent the current state of the art:

U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,555,482 and 7,606,801; and

U.S. Published Patent Application No.: 2011/0060916.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention seeks to provide an efficient system and methodology for enterprise level data collection.

There is thus provided in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention an enterprise data collection system including at least one database for receiving over a network and storing data collected from data resources at a
plurality of physical sites located at disparate locations, a plurality of remotely synchronizable probes (RSPs) located at the plurality of physical sites, the remotely synchronizable probes (RSPs) performing at least one of the following data
collection functions: real time event collection, file system crawling for data structure and permissions, data content analysis, data indexing, data tagging and event triggered alerts, and at least one RSP manager located remotely from at least one of
the plurality of remotely synchronizable probes and being operative to govern the operation of and orchestrate data collection and transmission by the plurality of remotely synchronizable probes (RSPs).

Preferably, the at least one RSP coordinates the timing of at least some data collection functions carried out on multiple ones of the data resources, which functions may occur simultaneously. Preferably, the at least one RSP manager
coordinates the timing of data collection by multiple ones of the plurality of RSPs on the basis of at least one of the following criteria: network latency, network bandwidth, time of day/day of week at the RSP, size of data resource, type of data
resource, prioritization of certain data resources over other data resources and user defined prioritization of data resources.

Preferably, the prioritization of certain data resources over other data resources is based at least partially on characteristics of at least one of: real time event collection, file system crawling for data structure and permissions, data
content analysis, data indexing, data tagging and event triggered alerts. Preferably, the at least one RSP manager coordinates the timing of data transmission from multiple ones of the plurality of RSPs, which transmission may occur simultaneously.

Preferably, the at least one RSP manager coordinates the timing of data transmission from multiple ones of the plurality of RSPs on the basis of at least one of the following criteria: network latency, network bandwidth, time of day/day of week
at the RSP, time of day/day of week at the at least one database, amount of data to be transmitted, prioritization of certain RSPs over other RSPs and user defined prioritization of data resources.

Preferably, the prioritization of certain RSPs over other RSPs is based at least partially on characteristics of at least one of: real time event collection, file system crawling for data structure and permissions, data content analysis, data
indexing, data tagging and event triggered alerts.

There is also provided in accordance with another preferred embodiment of the present invention an enterprise data collection method including transmitting and receiving over a network and storing data collected from data resources at a
plurality of physical sites located at disparate locations, performing at the plurality of physical sites at least one of the following data collection functions: real time event collection, file system crawling for data structure and permissions, data
content analysis, data indexing, data tagging and event triggered alerts, and governing and orchestrating data collection at the plurality of physical sites and transmission and receiving of the data over the network.

Preferably, the method also includes coordinating the timing of at least some data collection functions carried out on multiple ones of the data resources, which functions may occur simultaneously. Preferably, the coordinating includes
coordinating the timing of data collection from data resources at the plurality of physical sites on the basis of at least one of the following criteria: network latency, network bandwidth, time of day/day of week at the physical site, size of data
resource, type of data resource, prioritization of certain data resources over other data resources and user defined prioritization of data resources.

Preferably, the prioritization of certain data resources over other data resources is based at least partially on characteristics of at least one of real time event collection, file system crawling for data structure and permissions, data
content analysis, data indexing, data tagging and event triggered alerts.

Preferably, the method also includes coordinating the timing of data transmission from multiple ones of the plurality of physical sites which transmission may occur simultaneously.

Preferably, the coordinating the timing of data transmission from multiple ones of the plurality of physical sites is on the basis of at least one of the following criteria: network latency, network bandwidth, time of day/day of week at the
physical site, time of day/day of week at the at least one database, amount of data to be transmitted, prioritization of certain physical sites over other physical sites and user defined prioritization of data resources.

Preferably, the prioritization of certain physical sites over other physical sites is based at least partially on characteristics of at least one of real time event collection, file system crawling for data structure and permissions, data
content analysis, data indexing, data tagging and event triggered alerts.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention will be understood and appreciated more fully from the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a simplified illustration of a system and methodology for enterprise level data collection at a plurality of physical sites located at disparate locations including real time event collection, file system crawling for data structure
and permissions, data content analysis, data indexing, data tagging and event triggered alerts;

FIG. 2 is a simplified illustration of part of the system and methodology illustrated in FIG. 1, showing coordination of the timing of at least some of the data collection from multiple data resources at one of the plurality of physical sites;

FIG. 3A is a simplified illustration of part of the system and methodology illustrated in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, showing coordination of the timing of data collection by multiple ones of said plurality of RSPs on the basis of time of day/day of week
at the RSP;

FIG. 3B is a simplified illustration of part of the system and methodology illustrated in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, showing coordination of the timing of data collection by multiple ones of said plurality of RSPs showing prioritization of certain data
resources over other data resources based at least partially on characteristics of real time event collection and of file system;

FIG. 4A is a simplified illustration of part of the system and methodology illustrated in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, showing coordination of the timing of data collection by multiple ones of said plurality of RSPs on the basis of the amount of data to
be collected from the data resources monitored thereby and on the basis of type of the data resources monitored thereby;

FIG. 4B is a simplified illustration of part of the system and methodology illustrated in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, showing coordination of the timing of data collection by multiple ones of said plurality of RSPs on the basis of type of data resource
and on the basis of user defined prioritization of RSPs located in various physical sites;

FIG. 4C is a simplified illustration of part of the system and methodology illustrated in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, showing coordination of the timing of data collection by multiple ones of the plurality of RSPs on the basis of size of data resource
and on the basis of type of data resource and showing prioritization of certain data resources over other data resources based at least partially on characteristics of real time event collection and of file system crawling for data structure and
permissions;

FIG. 5A is a simplified illustration of part of the system and methodology illustrated in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, showing coordination of the timing of data transmission by multiple ones of said plurality of RSPs on the basis of network latency;

FIG. 5B is a simplified illustration of part of the system and methodology illustrated in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, showing coordination of the timing of data transmission by multiple ones of said plurality of RSPs on the basis of network bandwidth;

FIG. 5C is a simplified illustration of part of the system and methodology illustrated in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, showing coordination of the timing of data transmission by multiple ones of said plurality of RSPs on the basis of the amount of
collected data to be transmitted;

FIG. 5D is a simplified illustration of part of the system and methodology illustrated in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, showing coordination of the timing of data transmission by multiple ones of said plurality of RSPs on the basis of type of data
resource;

FIG. 5E is a simplified illustration of part of the system and methodology illustrated in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, showing coordination of the timing of data transmission by multiple ones of said plurality of RSPs on the basis of user defined
prioritization of RSPs located in various physical sites;

FIG. 5F is a simplified illustration of part of the system and methodology illustrated in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, showing coordination of the timing of data transmission by multiple ones of said plurality of RSPs on the basis of time of day/day of
week at the RSP;

FIG. 5G is a simplified illustration of part of the system and methodology illustrated in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, showing coordination of the timing of data transmission by multiple ones of said plurality of RSPs on the basis of user defined
prioritization of data resources;

FIG. 5H is a simplified illustration of part of the system and methodology illustrated in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, showing coordination of the timing of data transmission by multiple ones of said plurality of RSPs on the basis of time of day/day of
week at the RSP and on the on the basis of the amount of collected data to be transmitted;

FIG. 6A is a simplified illustration of part of the system and methodology illustrated in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, showing coordination of the timing of data collection by multiple ones of the plurality of RSPs on the basis of size of data resource
and on the basis of type of data resource and showing prioritization of certain data resources over other data resources based at least partially on characteristics of real time event collection and of file system crawling for data structure and
permissions and showing coordination of the timing of at least some of the data transmission from ones of the plurality of RSPs on the basis of time of day/day of week at the RSP;

FIG. 6B is a simplified illustration of part of the system and methodology illustrated in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, showing coordination of the timing of data collection by multiple ones of the plurality of RSPs on the basis of size of data resource
and on the basis of type of data resource and showing prioritization of certain data resources over other data resources based at least partially on characteristics of real time event collection and of file system crawling for data structure and
permissions and based on prioritization of certain RSPs over other RSPs; and

FIG. 7 is a simplified illustration of part of the system and methodology illustrated in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, showing coordination of the timing of data collection by multiple ones of the plurality of RSPs on the basis of size of data resource and
on the basis of type of data resource and showing prioritization of certain data resources over other data resources based at least partially on characteristics of real time event collection and of file system crawling for data structure and permissions
and based on prioritization of certain RSPs over other RSPs and showing coordination of the timing of at least some of the data transmission from ones of the plurality of RSPs on the basis of time of day/day of week at the RSP.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Reference is now made to FIG. 1, which is a simplified illustration of a system and methodology for enterprise level data collection at a plurality of physical sites located at disparate locations including real time event collection, file
system crawling for data structure and permissions, data content analysis, data indexing, data tagging and event triggered alerts.

As seen in FIG. 1, there is provided a system for enterprise level data collection at a plurality of physical sites located at disparate locations including real time event collection, file system crawling for data structure and permissions,
data content analysis, data indexing, data tagging and event triggered alerts. The system of FIG. 1 preferably includes at least one database for receiving over a network and storing data collected from data resources at a plurality of physical sites
located at disparate locations.

In the illustrated embodiment, a single database 100 is shown, it being appreciated that alternatively a plurality of databases 100 may be provided. The network may be any suitable network such a conventional enterprise wide network including
disparately located database systems, servers, routers, computers and other network devices. The data resources may be any suitable data resources such as file systems, databases, NAS devices, WINDOWS.RTM./UNIX.RTM. file servers, MICROSOFT.RTM.
SHAREPOINT.RTM. servers and Exchange servers, ERP systems and CRM systems. In the illustrated embodiment, data resources 110, 112 and 114 are shown located in London, data resources 120, 122 and 124 are shown located in Paris and data resources 130,
132 and 134 are shown located in Rome. Data resources 140, 142 and 144 are shown located in Seattle and data resources 150, 152 and 154 are shown located in Beijing. Data resources 160, 162 and 164 are shown located in Delhi.

In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a plurality of remotely synchronizable probes (RSPs) are located at the plurality of physical sites. In the illustrated embodiment, RSPs 171, 172 and 173 are located in London,
Paris and Rome respectively, RSPs 174 and 175 are located in Seattle and Beijing respectively and RSP 176 is located in Delhi.

In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention, remotely synchronizable probes (RSPs) 171-176 each perform at least one of the following data collection functions: real time event collection; file system crawling for data structure
and permissions; data content analysis; data indexing; data tagging; and event triggered alerts.

Further in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, at least one RSP manager, located remotely from at least one of the plurality of remotely synchronizable probes, is operative to govern the operation of and orchestrate
data collection and transmission by the plurality of remotely synchronizable probes (RSPs). In the illustrated embodiment, a single RSP manager 180, typically a server, is located at an RSP Manager Site in New York, which also houses database 100. The
RSP manager 180 governs the operation of and orchestrates data collection and transmission by remotely synchronizable probes (RSPs) 171-176, which are located in disparate locations geographically distant therefrom.

As seen in FIG. 1, RSP manager 180 sends out various types of instructions to RSPs 171-176. In the illustrated example, RSP manager 180 sends a Start Event Collection instruction to RSP 171 in London, a Start Data Content Analysis instruction
to RSP 172 in Paris and a Start Data Tagging instruction to RSP 173 in Rome. The RSP manager 180 typically also sends a Start File System Crawling instruction to RSP 174 in Seattle, receives an Alert from RSP 175 in Beijing and sends a Start Data
Indexing instruction to RSP 176 in Delhi.

Reference is now made to FIG. 2, which is a simplified illustration of part of the system and methodology illustrated in FIG. 1, showing coordination of the timing of at least some of the data collection from multiple data resources at one of
the plurality of physical sites. As seen in FIG. 2, RSP 173 located in Rome coordinates the timing of at least some data collection functions carried out by multiple ones of data resources monitored thereby, which functions may occur simultaneously.
For example, as shown in FIG. 2, RSP 173 instructs file servers 130, 132 and 134 monitored thereby to perform various data collection functions at specific times. As shown specifically in FIG. 2, at 01:00 hours, RSP 173 instructs file server 130 to
crawl a file system located thereon. Simultaneously, RSP 173 also instructs file server 132 to analyze the data content thereof. At 02:00 RSP 173 instructs file server 134 to index the data stored thereon.

Reference is now made to FIG. 3A, which is a simplified illustration of part of the system and methodology illustrated in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, showing coordination of the timing of data collection by multiple ones of said plurality of RSPs on the
basis of time of day/day of week at the RSP. In the example of FIG. 3A, a management rule is implemented by RSP Manager 180 whereby RSPs are instructed to collect data from their respective data resources at times when those data resources have low
utilization rates, such as during the local nighttime hours thereat.

Implementation of this rule in the context of an embodiment of the present invention is shown in FIG. 3A as follows: At 12:00 midnight local London time, RSP Manager 180 instructs RSP 171 located in London to collect data from servers 110, 112
and 114 monitored thereby. Thereafter, at 2:00 AM local Paris time RSP Manager 180 instructs RSP 172 located in Paris to collect data from servers 120, 122 and 124 monitored thereby. Simultaneously, at 2:00 AM local Rome time RSP Manager 180 instructs
RSP 130 located in Rome to collect data from servers 130, 132 and 134 monitored thereby.

Thereafter, at 12:00 midnight the next day local Beijing time, RSP Manager 180 instructs RSP 175 located in Beijing to collect data from servers 150, 152 and 154 monitored thereby. Thereafter, at 12:00 midnight local Delhi time RSP Manager 180
instructs RSP 160 located in Delhi to collect data from servers 160, 162 and 164 monitored thereby. Thereafter, at 12:00 midnight local Seattle time RSP Manager 180 instructs RSP 174 located in Seattle to collect data from servers 140, 142 and 144
monitored thereby.

Reference is now made to FIG. 3B, which is a simplified illustration of part of the system and methodology illustrated in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, showing coordination of the timing of data collection by multiple ones of said plurality of RSPs showing
prioritization of certain data resources over other data resources based at least partially on characteristics of real time event collection and of file system.

In the example of FIG. 3B, a management rule is implemented by RSP Manager 180 whereby priority is given to data collection from data resources with respect to which access events have occurred.

RSP Manager 180 becomes aware of access events relating to various data resources, as by periodic querying the various RSPs. Immediately upon becoming aware of such an access event relating to server 160 monitored by RSP 176 located in Delhi,
RSP manager 180 initially instructs RSP 176 to collect data from server 160. Typically thereafter, the RSP Manager 180, responsive to an earlier access event relating to server 130 monitored by RSP 173, located in Rome, instructs RSP 173 to collect data
from server 130. Typically thereafter, the RSP Manager 180, responsive to an even earlier access event relating to server 112 monitored by RSP 171, located in London, instructs RSP 110 to collect data from server 112.

It is appreciated that prioritization may be based not only on access events, but additionally and/or alternatively on more or more of the following: real time event collection; file system crawling for data structure and permissions; data
content analysis; data indexing; data tagging; and event triggered alerts.

Reference is now made to FIG. 4A, which is a simplified illustration of part of the system and methodology illustrated in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, showing coordination of the timing of data collection by multiple ones of said plurality of RSPs on the
basis of the amount of data to be collected from the data resources monitored thereby and on the basis of type of the data resources monitored thereby.

The amount of data to be collected data is symbolized in FIG. 4A by a number of file cabinets containing data. The type of data resource is indicated by the following typical abbreviations: EXS--Exchange server, WIN FS--WINDOWS.RTM. File
Server, NAS--Network Attached Storage Device, SP--SHAREPOINT.RTM. Servers and UX FS--UNIX.RTM. File Server.

In the example of FIG. 4A, two management rules are implemented by RSP Manager 180, namely:

whereby RSPs which monitor data resources having greater real time criticality, are instructed to collect data before RSPs which monitor data resources having lesser real time criticality, and

whereby RSPs which have a greater amount of data to transmit are instructed to collect before RSPs having a lesser amount of data to transmit.

Implementation of these rules in the context of an embodiment of the present invention is shown in FIG. 4A as follows: RSP Manager 180 initially instructs RSP 176 located in Delhi, which monitors multiple Exchange Servers that have a relatively
high real time criticality, to collect a relatively large amount of data from the data resources monitored thereby.

Thereafter, RSP Manager 180 instructs RSP 173 located in Rome, which monitors multiple WINDOWS.RTM. File Servers that have yet a slightly lesser real time criticality, to collect a slightly lesser amount of data from the data resources
monitored thereby. Thereafter, RSP Manager 180 instructs RSP 175 located in Beijing, which monitors multiple Network Attached Storage Device that have yet a slightly lower high real time criticality, to collect a similar amount of data from the data
resources monitored thereby. Yet thereafter, RSP Manager 180 instructs RSP 171 located in London, which monitors multiple SHAREPOINT.RTM. Servers that have yet a slightly lower high real time criticality, to collect a similar amount of data from the
data resources monitored thereby.

Thereafter, RSP Manager 180 instructs RSP 172 located in Paris, which also monitors multiple SHAREPOINT.RTM. Servers, to collect a relatively small amount of data from the data resources monitored thereby. Thereafter, RSP Manager 180 instructs
RSP 174 located in Seattle, which monitors multiple UNIX.RTM. File Server that have a slightly lower high real time criticality, to collect a similar amount of data from the data resources monitored thereby.

Reference is now made to FIG. 4B, which is a simplified illustration of part of the system and methodology illustrated in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, showing coordination of the timing of data collection by multiple ones of said plurality of RSPs on the
basis of type of data resource and on the basis of user defined prioritization of RSPs located in various physical sites.

The type of data resource from which data is to be collected is indicated in FIG. 4B by the following typical abbreviations: EXS--Exchange server, WIN FS--WINDOWS.RTM. File Server, NAS--Network Attached Storage Device, SP--SHAREPOINT.RTM.
Servers and UX FS--UNIX.RTM. File Server.

In the example of FIG. 4B, two management rules are implemented by RSP Manager 180, namely:

whereby RSPs which monitor data resources having greater real time criticality, are instructed to collect data before RSPs which monitor data resources having lesser real time criticality; and

Implementation of these rules in the context of an embodiment of the present invention is shown in FIG. 4B as follows: RSP Manager 180 initially instructs RSP 171 located in London which has a high user-defined priority and which monitors
multiple Exchange Servers which have a relatively high real time criticality, to collect data from the data resources monitored thereby.

Thereafter, RSP Manager 180 instructs RSP 176 located in Delhi which has a slightly lower user-defined priority and which monitors multiple WINDOWS.RTM. File Servers which have a slightly lower real time criticality, to collect data from the
data resources monitored thereby. Thereafter, RSP Manager 180 instructs RSP 173, located in Rome which has yet an even more slightly lower user-defined priority and which also monitors multiple WINDOWS.RTM. File Servers, to collect data from the data
resources monitored thereby. Yet thereafter, RSP Manager 180 instructs RSP 174 located in Seattle which has yet an even more slightly lower user-defined priority and which also monitors multiple WINDOWS.RTM. File Servers, to collect data from the data
resources monitored thereby.

Thereafter, RSP Manager 180 instructs RSP 172 located in Paris which has yet an even more slightly lower user-defined priority and which monitors multiple SHAREPOINT.RTM. Servers which have a relatively low real time criticality, to collect
data from the data resources monitored thereby. Thereafter, RSP Manager 180 instructs RSP 175, which is located in Beijing which has yet an even more slightly lower user-defined priority and which monitors multiple UNIX.RTM. File Servers which have
even a slightly lower high real time criticality, to collect data from the data resources monitored thereby.

Reference is now made to FIG. 4C, which is a simplified illustration of part of the system and methodology illustrated in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, showing coordination of the timing of data collection by multiple ones of the plurality of RSPs on the
basis of size of data resource and on the basis of type of data resource and showing prioritization of certain data resources over other data resources based at least partially on characteristics of real time event collection and of file system crawling
for data structure and permissions.

The amount of data to be collected data is symbolized in FIG. 4C by a number of file cabinets containing data. The type of data resource is indicated by the following typical abbreviations: EXS--Exchange server, WIN FS--WINDOWS.RTM. File
Server, NAS--Network Attached Storage Device, SP--SHAREPOINT.RTM. Servers and UX FS--UNIX.RTM. File Server.

In the example of FIG. 4C, four management rules are implemented by RSP Manager 180, namely:

whereby RSPs which monitor data resources having greater real time criticality, are instructed to collect data before RSPs which monitor data resources having lesser real time criticality;

whereby RSPs which have a greater amount of data to transmit are instructed to collect before RSPs having a lesser amount of data to transmit;

whereby priority is given to data collection from data resources with respect to which access events have occurred; and

whereby priority is given to data collection from data resources with respect to which file system crawling for data structure and permissions have recently occurred.

Implementation of these rules in the context of an embodiment of the present invention is shown in FIG. 4C as follows: RSP Manager 180 becomes aware of access events and recent file system crawling for data structure and permissions relating to
various data resources, as by periodic querying the various RSP. Immediately upon become aware of such an access event relating to a data resource monitored by RSP 176 located in Delhi, and for which data resource a file system crawling was recently
performed, RSP manager 180 instructs RSP 176, which monitors multiple Exchange Servers that have a relatively high real time criticality, to collect a relatively large amount of data from the data resources monitored thereby.

Thereafter, RSP Manager 180, responsive to an earlier access event relating to a data resource monitored by RSP 173 located in Rome, and to an earlier file system crawl of a data resource monitored by RSP 173, instructs RSP, which monitors
multiple WINDOWS.RTM. File Servers which have a slightly lower real time criticality, to collect a slightly lesser amount of data from the data resources monitored thereby. Typically thereafter, RSP Manager 180, responsive to an even earlier access
event relating to a data resource monitored by RSP 171 located in London, and to an earlier file system crawl of a data resource monitored by RSP 171, instructs RSP 171, which monitors multiple Network Attached Storage Device that have a slightly lower
high real time criticality, to collect a slightly lesser amount of data from the data resources monitored thereby.

Yet thereafter, RSP Manager 180, responsive to an even earlier access event relating to a data resource monitored by RSP 172 is located in Paris, and to a yet earlier file system crawl of a data resource monitored by RSP 172, instructs RSP 172,
which monitors multiple SHAREPOINT.RTM. Servers that have a slightly lower high real time criticality, to collect a slightly lesser amount of data from the data resources monitored thereby.

Thereafter, RSP Manager 180, responsive to an even earlier access event relating to a data resource monitored by RSP 175 located in Beijing, and to a yet earlier file system crawl of a data resource monitored by RSP 175, instructs RSP 175, which
monitors multiple UNIX.RTM. File Servers that have a slightly lower high real time criticality, to collect a slightly less amount of data from the data resources monitored thereby. Thereafter, RSP Manager 180, responsive to an even earlier access event
relating to a data resource monitored by RSP 174 located in Seattle, and to a yet earlier file system crawl of a data resource monitored by RSP 174, instructs RSP 174, which also monitors multiple SHAREPOINT.RTM. Servers, to collect a similar amount of
data from the data resources monitored thereby.

Reference is now made to FIG. 5A, which is a simplified illustration of part of the system and methodology illustrated in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, showing coordination of the timing of data collection by multiple ones of said plurality of RSPs on the
basis of network latency. Network latency is symbolized in FIG. 5A by traffic congestion, the greater the congestion the greater the latency. In the example of FIG. 5A, a management rule is implemented by RSP Manager 180 whereby network connections
having lesser latency are utilized before network connections having greater latency.

Implementation of this rule in the context of an embodiment of the present invention is shown in FIG. 5A as follows: RSP Manager 180 initially instructs RSP 176 located in Delhi to transmit data collected thereby to the RSP Manager 180 over a
network connection 306 which has relatively low latency. Thereafter, RSP Manager 180 instructs RSP 174 located in Seattle to transmit data collected thereby to the RSP Manager 180 over a network connection 315 which has slightly higher latency than
network connection 306. Thereafter, RSP Manager 180 instructs RSP 175 located in Beijing to transmit data collected thereby to the RSP Manager 180 over a network connection 324, which has slightly higher latency than network connection 315.

Thereafter, RSP Manager 180 instructs RSP 171 located in London to transmit data collected thereby to the RSP Manager 180 over a network connection 331, which has slightly higher latency than network connection 324. Thereafter, RSP Manager 180
instructs RSP 172 located in Paris to transmit data collected thereby to the RSP Manager 180 over a network connection 332, which has slightly higher latency than network connection 331. Thereafter, RSP Manager 180 instructs RSP 173 located in Rome to
transmit data collected thereby to the RSP Manager 180 over a network connection 333, which has slightly higher latency than network connection 332.

Reference is now made to FIG. 5B, which is a simplified illustration of part of the system and methodology illustrated in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, showing coordination of the timing of data collection by multiple ones of said plurality of RSPs on the
basis of network bandwidth. Network bandwidth is symbolized in FIG. 5B by a number of traffic lanes, the greater the number of lanes the greater the bandwidth. In the example of FIG. 5B, a management rule is implemented by RSP Manager 180 whereby
network connections having greater bandwidth are utilized before network connections having lesser bandwidth.

Implementation of this rule in the context of an embodiment of the present invention is shown in FIG. 5B as follows: RSP Manager 180 initially instructs RSP 176 located in Delhi to transmit data collected thereby to the RSP Manager 180 over a
network connection 336 which has relatively high bandwidth. Thereafter, RSP Manager 180 instructs RSP 174 located in Seattle to transmit data collected thereby to the RSP Manager 180 over a network connection 345 which has slightly lower bandwidth than
network connection 336. Thereafter or simultaneously, RSP Manager 180 instructs RSP 175 located in Beijing to transmit data collected thereby to the RSP Manager 180 over a network connection 354, which has bandwidth similar to that of network connection
345.

Thereafter, RSP Manager 180 instructs RSP 171 located in London to transmit data collected thereby to the RSP Manager 180 over a network connection 361, which has slightly lower bandwidth than network connection 354. Thereafter or
simultaneously, RSP Manager 180 instructs RSP 172 located in Paris to transmit data collected thereby to the RSP Manager 180 over a network connection 362, which has bandwidth similar to that of network connection 361. Thereafter, RSP Manager 180
instructs RSP 173 located in Rome to transmit data collected thereby to the RSP Manager 180 over a network connection 363, which has slightly lower bandwidth than network connection 362.

Reference is now made to FIG. 5C, which is a simplified illustration of part of the system and methodology illustrated in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, showing coordination of the timing of data transmission by multiple ones of said plurality of RSPs on
the basis of the amount of collected data to be transmitted. The amount of collected data to be transmitted is symbolized in FIG. 5C by a number of file cabinets containing data. In the example of FIG. 5C, a management rule is implemented by RSP
Manager 180 whereby RSPs which have a greater amount of data to transmit are instructed to transmit before RSPs having a lesser amount of data to transmit.

Implementation of this rule in the context of an embodiment of the present invention is shown in FIG. 5C as follows: RSP Manager 180 initially instructs RSP 176 located in Delhi to transmit a relatively large amount of data collected thereby to
RSP Manager 180. Thereafter, RSP Manager 180 instructs RSP 173 located in Rome to transmit a slightly lesser amount of data collected thereby to RSP Manager 180. Thereafter, RSP Manager 180 instructs RSP 171 located in London to transmit an even lesser
amount of data collected thereby to RSP Manager 180.

Reference is now made to FIG. 5D, which is a simplified illustration of part of the system and methodology illustrated in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, showing coordination of the timing of data transmission by multiple ones of said plurality of RSPs on
the basis of type of data resources monitored by the RSPs. The type of data resource is indicated by the following typical abbreviations: EXS--Exchange server, WIN FS--WINDOWS.RTM. File Server, NAS--Network Attached Storage Device, SP--SHAREPOINT.RTM.
Servers and UX FS--UNIX.RTM. File Server. In the example of FIG. 5D, a management rule is implemented by RSP Manager 180 whereby RSPs which monitor data resources having greater real time criticality, are instructed to transmit before RSPs which
monitor data resources having lesser real time criticality.

Implementation of this rule in the context of an embodiment of the present invention is shown in FIG. 5D as follows: RSP Manager 180 initially instructs RSP 171, which monitors multiple Exchange Servers, which are determined, for example, to
have relatively high real time criticality, to transmit data collected thereby to RSP Manager 180. Thereafter, RSP Manager 180 instructs RSP 176, which monitors multiple WINDOWS.RTM. File Servers, which are determined, for example, to have slightly
lower real time criticality, to transmit data collected thereby to RSP Manager 180. Thereafter, RSP Manager 180 instructs RSP 173, which monitors multiple NAS devices, which are determined, for example, to have even lower real time criticality, to
transmit data collected thereby to RSP Manager 180.

Reference is now made to FIG. 5E, which is a simplified illustration of part of the system and methodology illustrated in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, showing coordination of the timing of data transmission by multiple ones of said plurality of RSPs on
the basis of user defined prioritization of RSPs located in various physical sites.

In the example of FIG. 5E, a management rule is implemented by RSP Manager 180 whereby RSPs having higher user defined priorities are instructed to transmit before RSPs having lower user defined priorities. In the illustrated example of FIG.
5E, RSPs, which are located in locations having higher user-defined priorities, are instructed to transmit before RSPs which are located in locations having lower user-defined priorities.

Implementation of this rule in the context of an embodiment of the present invention is shown in FIG. 5E as follows: RSP Manager 180 initially instructs RSP 175 located in Beijing, which has the highest user-defined priority, to transmit data
collected thereby to the RSP Manager 180. Thereafter, RSP Manager 180 instructs RSP 174 located in Seattle, which has the next-highest user-defined priority, to transmit data collected thereby to the RSP Manager 180. Thereafter, RSP Manager 180
instructs RSP 176 located in Delhi, which has the third highest user-defined priority, to transmit data collected thereby to the RSP Manager 180.

Thereafter, RSP Manager 180 instructs RSP 172 located in Paris, which has the fourth-highest user-defined priority, to transmit data collected thereby to the RSP Manager 180. Thereafter, RSP Manager 180 instructs RSP 171 located in London,
which has the fifth-highest user-defined priority, to transmit data collected thereby to the RSP Manager 180. Thereafter RSP Manager 180 instructs RSP 173 located in Rome which has the next highest user-defined priority, to transmit data collected
thereby to the RSP Manager 180.

Reference is now made to FIG. 5F, which is a simplified illustration of part of the system and methodology illustrated in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, showing coordination of the timing of data transmission by multiple ones of said plurality of RSPs on
the basis of time of day/day of week at the RSP.

In the example of FIG. 5F, a management rule is implemented by RSP Manager 180 whereby RSPs are instructed to transmit data at times when data resources have low utilization rates, such as during the local nighttime hours thereat.

Implementation of this rule in the context of an embodiment of the present invention is shown in FIG. 5F as follows: At 12:00 midnight local London time, RSP Manager 180 instructs RSP 171 located in London to transmit data collected from servers
110, 112 and 114 monitored thereby. Thereafter, at 2:00 AM local Paris time RSP Manager 180 instructs RSP 172 located in Paris to transmit data collected from servers 120, 122 and 124 monitored thereby. Simultaneously, at 2:00 AM local Rome time RSP
Manager 180 instructs RSP 173 located in Rome to transmit data collected from servers 130, 132 and 134 monitored thereby.

Thereafter, at 12:00 midnight the next day local Beijing time, RSP Manager 180 instructs RSP 175 located in Beijing to transmit data collected from servers 150, 152 and 154 monitored thereby. Thereafter, at 12:00 midnight local Delhi time RSP
Manager 180 instructs RSP 176 located in Delhi to transmit data collected from servers 160, 162 and 164 monitored thereby. Thereafter, at 12:00 midnight local Seattle time RSP Manager 180 instructs RSP 174 located in Seattle to transmit data collected
from servers 140, 142 and 144 monitored thereby.

Reference is now made to FIG. 5G, which is a simplified illustration of part of the system and methodology illustrated in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, showing coordination of the timing of data transmission by multiple ones of said plurality of RSPs on
the basis of user defined prioritization of data resources.

In the example of FIG. 5G, a management rule is implemented by RSP Manager 180 whereby RSPs having higher user defined priorities are instructed to transmit data before RSPs having lower user defined priorities. In the illustrated example of
FIG. 5G, RSPs, which are located in locations having higher user-defined priorities, are instructed to collect data to be transmitted before RSPs which are located in locations having lower user-defined priorities.

Implementation of this rule in the context of an embodiment of the present invention is shown in FIG. 5G as follows: RSP Manager 180 initially instructs RSP 171 located in London which has a high user-defined priority to transmit data collected
from the data resources monitored thereby.

Thereafter, RSP Manager 180 instructs RSP 176 located in Delhi which has a slightly lower user-defined priority to transmit data collected from the data resources monitored thereby. Thereafter, RSP Manager 180 instructs RSP 173, located in Rome
which has yet an even more slightly lower user-defined priority to transmit data collected from the data resources monitored thereby. Yet thereafter, RSP Manager 180 instructs RSP 174 located in Seattle which has yet an even more slightly lower
user-defined priority, to transmit data collected from the data resources monitored thereby.

Thereafter, RSP Manager 180 instructs RSP 172 located in Paris which has yet an even more slightly lower user-defined priority, to transmit data collected from the data resources monitored thereby. Thereafter, RSP Manager 180 instructs RSP 175,
which is located in Beijing which has yet an even more slightly lower user-defined priority to transmit data collected from the data resources monitored thereby.

Reference is now made to FIG. 5H, which is a simplified illustration of part of the system and methodology illustrated in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, showing coordination of the timing of data transmission by multiple ones of said plurality of RSPs on
the basis of on the basis of time of day/day of week at the RSP and on the basis of the amount of collected data to be transmitted. The amount of collected data to be transmitted is symbolized in FIG. 5H by a number of file cabinets containing data. In
the example of FIG. 5H, two management rules are implemented by RSP Manager 180, namely:

whereby RSPs are instructed to transmit data collected from their respective data resources at times the network connections to those RSPs have low utilization rates, such as during the local nighttime hours thereat; and

whereby RSPs which have a greater amount of data to transmit are instructed to transmit before RSPs having a lesser amount of data to transmit.

Implementation of these rules in the context of an embodiment of the present invention is shown in FIG. 5H as follows:

At 12:00 midnight local London time, RSP Manager 180 instructs RSP 171, located in London, to transmit data collected from the data resources monitored thereby. Thereafter, at 2:00 AM local Paris time, RSP Manager 180 instructs RSP 172, located
in Paris, to transmit a relatively large amount of data collected from the data resources monitored thereby. Since RSP 173 in Rome has less data to transmit than does the RSP 172, located in Paris, the data transmission from the RSP 130 in Rome is set
to be later than the data transmission from the RSP 172, located in Paris. Accordingly, at 2:30 AM local Rome time, RSP Manager 180 instructs RSP 173, located in Rome, to transmit data collected from the data resources monitored thereby.

Thereafter, at 12:00 midnight the next day local Beijing time, RSP Manager 180 instructs RSP 175 located in Beijing to transmit data collected from the data resources monitored thereby. Thereafter, at 12:00 midnight local Delhi time RSP Manager
180 instructs RSP 176 located in Delhi to transmit data collected from the data resources monitored thereby. Thereafter, at 12:00 midnight local Seattle time RSP Manager 180 instructs RSP 174 located in Seattle to transmit data collected from the data
resources monitored thereby.

Reference is now made to FIG. 6A, which is a simplified illustration of part of the system and methodology illustrated in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, showing coordination of the timing of data collection by multiple ones of the plurality of RSPs on the
basis of size of data resource and on the basis of type of data resource and showing prioritization of certain data resources over other data resources based at least partially on characteristics of real time event collection and of file system crawling
for data structure and permissions and showing coordination of the timing of at least some of the data transmission from ones of the plurality of RSPs on the basis of time of day/day of week at the RSP.

The amount of data to be collected data is symbolized in FIG. 6A by a number of file cabinets containing data. The type of data resource is indicated by the following typical abbreviations: EXS--Exchange server, WIN FS--WINDOWS.RTM. File
Server, NAS--Network Attached Storage Device, SP--SHAREPOINT.RTM. Servers and UX FS--UNIX.RTM. File Server.

In the example of FIG. 6A, five management rules are implemented by RSP Manager 180, namely:

whereby RSPs which monitor data resources having greater real time criticality, are instructed to collect data before RSPs which monitor data resources having lesser real time criticality;

whereby RSPs which have a greater amount of data to transmit are instructed to collect before RSPs having a lesser amount of data to transmit;

whereby priority is given to data collection from data resources with respect to which access events have occurred;

whereby priority is given to data collection from data resources with respect to which file system crawling for data structure and permissions have recently occurred; and

whereby RSPs are instructed to transmit data at times when data resources have low utilization rates, such as during the local nighttime hours thereat.

Implementation of these rules in the context of an embodiment of the present invention is shown in FIG. 6A as follows: RSP Manager 180 becomes aware of access events and recent file system crawling for data structure and permissions relating to
various data resources, as by periodic querying the various RSP. Upon become aware of such an access event relating to a data resource monitored by RSP 171, located in London and for which data resource a file system crawling was recently performed, the
RSP manager 180 instructs RSP 171, which monitors multiple Exchange Servers which have a relatively high real time criticality, to collect a relatively large amount of data from the data resources monitored thereby at 12:00 midnight local London time.

Thereafter, RSP Manager 180, responsive to an earlier access event relating to a data resource monitored by RSP 172 located in Paris and to an earlier file system crawl of a data resource monitored by RSP 172, instructs RSP 172, which monitors
multiple WINDOWS.RTM. File Servers that have a slightly lower real time criticality, to collect a slightly lesser amount of data from the data resources monitored thereby at 2:00 AM local Paris time. Thereafter, RSP Manager 180, responsive to an even
earlier access event relating to a data resource monitored by RSP 173 located in Rome and to an earlier file system crawl of a data resource monitored by RSP 173, instructs RSP 173, which monitors multiple Network Attached Storage Device that have a
slightly lower high real time criticality, to collect a slightly lesser amount of data from the data resources monitored thereby.

Yet thereafter, RSP Manager 180, responsive to an even earlier access event relating to a data resource monitored by RSP 175 located in Beijing and to a yet earlier file system crawl of a data resource monitored by RSP 175, instructs RSP 175,
which monitors multiple SHAREPOINT.RTM. Servers that have a slightly lower high real time criticality, to collect a similar amount of data from the data resources monitored thereby at 12:00 midnight the next day local Beijing time.

Thereafter, RSP Manager 180, responsive to an even earlier access event relating to a data resource monitored by RSP 176 located in Delhi and to a yet earlier file system crawl of a data resource monitored by RSP 176, instructs RSP 176, which
monitors multiple UNIX.RTM. File Servers that have a slightly lower high real time criticality, to collect a slightly less amount of data from the data resources monitored thereby at 12:00 midnight local Delhi time.

Thereafter, the RSP Manager 180, responsive to an even earlier access event relating to a data resource monitored by RSP 174 located in Seattle and to a yet earlier file system crawl of a data resource monitored by RSP 174, instructs RSP 174,
which monitors multiple SHAREPOINT.RTM. Servers that have a slightly lower high real time criticality, to collect a similar amount of data from the data resources monitored thereby.

Reference is now made to FIG. 6B, which is a simplified illustration of part of the system and methodology illustrated in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, showing coordination of the timing of data collection by multiple ones of the plurality of RSPs on the
basis of size of data resource and on the basis of type of data resource and showing prioritization of certain data resources over other data resources based at least partially on characteristics of real time event collection and of file system crawling
for data structure and permissions and based on prioritization of certain RSPs over other RSPs.

The amount of data to be collected data is symbolized in FIG. 6B by a number of file cabinets containing data. The type of data resource is indicated by the following typical abbreviations: EXS--Exchange server, WIN FS--WINDOWS.RTM. File
Server, NAS--Network Attached Storage Device, SP--SHAREPOINT.RTM. Servers and UX FS--UNIX.RTM. File Server.

In the example of FIG. 6B, five management rules are implemented by RSP Manager 180, namely:

whereby RSPs which monitor data resources having greater real time criticality, are instructed to collect data before RSPs which monitor data resources having lesser real time criticality;

whereby RSPs which have a greater amount of data to transmit are instructed to collect before RSPs having a lesser amount of data to transmit;

whereby priority is given to data collection from data resources with respect to which access events have occurred;

whereby priority is given to data collection from data resources with respect to which file system crawling for data structure and permissions have recently occurred; and

Implementation of these rules in the context of an embodiment of the present invention is shown in FIG. 6B as follows: RSP Manager 180 becomes aware of access events and recent file system crawling for data structure and permissions relating to
various data resources, as by periodic querying the various RSP. Immediately upon become aware of such an access event relating to a data resource monitored by RSP 176, located in Delhi which has the highest user-defined priority and for which data
resource a file system crawling was recently performed, the RSP manager 180 instructs RSP 176, which is located in Delhi and which monitors multiple Exchange Servers that have a relatively high real time criticality, to collect a relatively large amount
of data from the data resources monitored thereby.

Thereafter, RSP Manager 180, responsive to an earlier access event relating to a data resource monitored by RSP 173 and to an earlier file system crawl of a data resource monitored by RSP 173 which has the next-highest user-defined priority,
instructs RSP 173 located in Rome, which monitors multiple WINDOWS.RTM. File Servers that have a relatively high real time criticality, to collect a slightly lesser amount of data from the data resources monitored thereby. Typically thereafter, the RSP
Manager 180, responsive to an even earlier access event relating to a data resource monitored by RSP 171 and to an earlier file system crawl of a data resource monitored by RSP 171, instructs RSP 171 located in London, which has the third highest
user-defined priority, which monitors multiple Network Attached Storage Device that have a slightly lower high real time criticality, to collect a slightly lesser amount of data from the data resources monitored thereby.

Yet thereafter, the RSP Manager 180, responsive to an even earlier access event relating to a data resource monitored by RSP 172 and to a yet earlier file system crawl of a data resource monitored by RSP 172, instructs RSP 172 located in Paris,
which has the fourth-highest user-defined priority, and which monitors multiple SHAREPOINT.RTM. Servers that have a slightly lower high real time criticality, to collect a similar amount of data from the data resources monitored thereby.

Thereafter, the RSP Manager 180, responsive to an even earlier access event relating to a data resource monitored by RSP 175 and to a yet earlier file system crawl of a data resource monitored by RSP 175, instructs RSP 175 located in Beijing,
which has the fifth-highest user-defined priority, and which monitors multiple UNIX.RTM. File Servers that have a slightly lower high real time criticality, to collect a slightly less amount of data from the data resources monitored thereby. Thereafter
or simultaneously, the RSP Manager 180, responsive to an even earlier access event relating to a data resource monitored by RSP 174 and to a yet earlier file system crawl of a data resource monitored by RSP 174, instructs RSP 174 located in Seattle,
which has the next highest user-defined priority, and which also monitors multiple UNIX.RTM. File, to collect a similar amount of data from the data resources monitored thereby.

Reference is now made to FIG. 7, which is a simplified illustration of part of the system and methodology illustrated in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, showing coordination of the timing of data collection by multiple ones of the plurality of RSPs on the
basis of size of data resource and on the basis of type of data resource and showing prioritization of certain data resources over other data resources based at least partially on characteristics of real time event collection and of file system crawling
for data structure and permissions and based on prioritization of certain RSPs over other RSPs and showing coordination of the timing of at least some of the data transmission from ones of the plurality of RSPs on the basis of time of day/day of week at
the RSP.

The amount of data to be collected data is symbolized in FIG. 7 by a number of file cabinets containing data. The type of data resource is indicated by the following typical abbreviations: EXS--Exchange server, WIN FS--WINDOWS.RTM. File
Server, NAS--Network Attached Storage Device, SP--SHAREPOINT.RTM. Servers and UX FS--UNIX.RTM. File Server.

In the example of FIG. 7, six management rules are implemented by RSP Manager 180, namely:

whereby RSPs which monitor data resources having greater real time criticality, are instructed to collect data before RSPs which monitor data resources having lesser real time criticality;

whereby RSPs which have a greater amount of data to transmit are instructed to collect before RSPs having a lesser amount of data to transmit;

whereby priority is given to data collection from data resources with respect to which access events have occurred;

whereby priority is given to data collection from data resources with respect to which file system crawling for data structure and permissions have recently occurred;

whereby RSPs are instructed to transmit data at times when data resources have low utilization rates, such as during the local nighttime hours thereat; and

Implementation of these rules in the context of an embodiment of the present invention is shown in FIG. 7 as follows: RSP Manager 180 becomes aware of access events and recent file system crawling for data structure and permissions relating to
various data resources, as by periodic querying the various RSP. Upon become aware of such an access event relating to a data resource monitored by RSP 171, located in London which has the highest user-defined priority and for which data resource a file
system crawling was recently performed, the RSP manager 180 instructs RSP 171, which monitors multiple Exchange Servers which have a relatively high real time criticality, to collect a relatively large amount of data from the data resources monitored
thereby at 12:00 midnight local London time.

Thereafter, RSP Manager 180, responsive to an earlier access event relating to a data resource monitored by RSP 172 located in Paris and to an earlier file system crawl of a data resource monitored by RSP 172 which has the next-highest
user-defined priority, instructs RSP 172, which monitors multiple WINDOWS.RTM. File Servers which have a slightly lower real time criticality, to collect a slightly lesser amount of data from the data resources monitored thereby at 2:00 AM local Paris
time. Thereafter, RSP Manager 180, responsive to an even earlier access event relating to a data resource monitored by RSP 173 located in Rome and to an earlier file system crawl of a data resource monitored by RSP 173, instructs RSP 173, which has the
third highest user-defined priority, which monitors multiple Network Attached Storage Device which have a slightly lower high real time criticality, to collect a slightly lesser amount of data from the data resources monitored thereby.

Yet thereafter, the RSP Manager 180, responsive to an even earlier access event relating to a data resource monitored by RSP 175 located in Beijing and to a yet earlier file system crawl of a data resource monitored by RSP 175, instructs RSP
175, which has the fourth-highest user-defined priority, which monitors multiple SHAREPOINT.RTM. Servers which have a slightly lower high real time criticality, to collect a similar amount of data from the data resources monitored thereby at 12:00
midnight the next day local Beijing time.

Thereafter, the RSP Manager 180, responsive to an even earlier access event relating to a data resource monitored by RSP 176 located in Delhi and to a yet earlier file system crawl of a data resource monitored by RSP 176, instructs RSP 176,
which has the fifth-highest user-defined priority, which monitors multiple UNIX.RTM. File Servers which have a slightly lower high real time criticality, to collect a slightly less amount of data from the data resources monitored thereby at 12:00
midnight local Delhi time.

Thereafter, the RSP Manager 180, responsive to an even earlier access event relating to a data resource monitored by RSP 174 located in Seattle and to a yet earlier file system crawl of a data resource monitored by RSP 174, instructs RSP 174,
which has the next highest user-defined priority, and which also monitors multiple UNIX.RTM. File Servers, to collect a similar amount of data from the data resources monitored thereby.

It will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that the present invention is not limited by what has been particularly shown and described hereinabove. Rather the scope of the present invention includes both combinations and
subcombinations of the various features described hereinabove as well as modifications thereof which would occur to persons skilled in the art upon reading the foregoing description and which are not in the prior art.